25 Facts About Rafael Eitan

Rafael "Raful" Eitan was an Israeli general, former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and later a politician, a Knesset member, and government minister.

Rafael Eitan was born as Rafael Kaminsky in the moshav of Tel Adashim near Nazareth in 1929, to Eliyahu and Miriam Eitan, Ukrainian Jewish immigrants to Palestine.

Rafael Eitan's father was one of the founders of the Jewish defense organization Hashomer.

Rafael Eitan's father gave Rafael and his brothers and sisters a strict education.

Rafael Eitan fought in Jerusalem and received a head wound in the battle for the San Simon Monastery in April 1948.

In 1954, Captain Rafael Eitan became commander of a Paratroops company in Unit 101.

Rafael Eitan received a severe head wound in combat while approaching the Suez Canal.

On 1 April 1978, Rafael Eitan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and was appointed by Ezer Weizman to be the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.

Rafael Eitan opened his term with symbolic steps to increase discipline and efficiency in the IDF.

Rafael Eitan required soldiers to wear the military beret and to collect spent cartridges after rifle range practice.

Rafael Eitan oversaw the redeployment of the IDF outside of the Sinai Peninsula after the peninsula was handed back to Egypt.

Rafael Eitan was chief of staff at the time of the Israeli air attack on Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor complex on 7 June 1981.

In concluding that Rafael Eitan was "in breach of duty that was incumbent on the Chief of Staff" the Commission focused on two points:.

Rafael Eitan had the image of the sabra Israeli who connected to his roots and to the land.

Rafael Eitan was considered to be a conservative advocating tough policies towards the Palestinians.

Rafael Eitan initially joined the Tehiya party and was first elected to the Knesset in 1984.

Rafael Eitan was elected to the 11th Knesset and served as Minister of Agriculture between 1988 and 1991, when Tzomet left the government.

Rafael Eitan was a supporter of the Israeli alliance with Apartheid-era South Africa.

Rafael Eitan has been accused of expressing racist sentiments towards Arabs.

Rafael Eitan had troubles in controlling his party, resulting in some Knesset members splitting from Tzomet to join other parties.

Rafael Eitan was promised the ministry of internal security, but a criminal investigation against him blocked his nomination.

In 1999 Tzomet failed to win any Knesset seats and Rafael Eitan retired from politics.

On 23 November 2004, Rafael Eitan arrived at the Mediterranean sea port of Ashdod, where he was overseeing a port expansion project.

Rafael Eitan was lost in rough waters for over an hour before his body was recovered by the Israeli Navy.

Rafael Eitan was pronounced dead after efforts to revive him failed.